Tiger Woods wins one for history
By John Strege
The Orange County Register
(KRT)
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Tiger Woods' historical journey cut a wide swath
through the forest of pine and dogwood trees at the Augusta National
Golf Club on Sunday, when he won the Masters in a record manner.
Woods, 21, became the youngest ever to win the Masters, and
he did so by 12 strokes, another Masters record. He also set a
scoring record, covering 72 holes in 270 strokes, 18-under par.
Of a greater significance to the Cypress, Calif.-born golfer
was that he became the first man of African-American descent to
win at Augusta. He paid homage to those who blazed the trails
that made this journey possible, notably Lee Elder, the first
black to play here, and Charlie Sifford, who was never afforded
the opportunity.
"I thought about those guys coming up 18," Woods
said. "I said a little prayer and said thanks. I wasn't the
first. I wasn't the pioneer. I thank them. I think that's why
this victory is even more special. Lee Elder, because of what
he did, I was able to play here."
After Woods had donned the traditional green jacket presented
the winner of the Masters, he took a call from President Clinton.
"He said he was proud of the way I played," Woods
said. "He said the best shot he saw all week was the shot
of me hugging my dad."
When Woods came off the 18th green, his parents, Earl and Kultida,
embraced him, the continuation of a ritual that began when he
won the first of three U.S. Junior Amateurs and has continued
through every major victory of his career.
(c) 1997, The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.).
|
